Desolation
A medieval murder mystery - a chilling tale of death and deceit in plague-stricken York
Published on 17. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
520 pages
978-1-83703-433-8 (ISBN)
Description
A BRAND NEW wickedly dark medieval mystery from Keith Moray. If you like your murder truely gruesome - this series is for you! ???????The Black Rood of Scotland, stolen.
A coroner of York, murdered
An evil worse than plague itself, at large...
1361, York. As the country recovers from the war with France, and whispers that the pestilence has returned to England grow louder, fear is in the heart of every nobleman and commoner alike. Sir Ralph de Mandeville, ex-solider and newly appointed Justice of the Peace is sent to Langbarugh, just outside York, to investigate the murder of Coroner Sir Boderick de Whitby.
More deaths quickly follow, and while these are swiftly dealt with as plague victims, Sir Ralph and his two assistants Merek and Peter soon uncover something altogether more horrifying... A greater evil is at large in the northern wapentakes.
As panic escalates and the lines between plague and murder blur, Sir Ralph is thrust into a desperate race against time. Every shadow hides a potential killer, every cough could be a death knell. Can he unmask a murderer lurking in the terrifying shadow of the Black Death before they're all consumed by a terror more sinister than any plague?
A gruesomely wicked medieval mystery, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom, Paul Doherty and E. M. Powell.
What readers are saying abut Keith Moray...
'Dark and wonderfully addictive!' ????? Reader Review
'For any one who loves Phillipa Gregory and Kate Mosse, this is a must read' ????? Reader Review
'An excellent blending of poison, murder and the historical events' ????? Reader Review
'Comparable to other murder mystery books by well known others such as Ellis Peters or S.J Parris.' ????? Reader Review
'An exciting historical fiction novel that's well worth your time!' ????? Reader Review
A coroner of York, murdered
An evil worse than plague itself, at large...
1361, York. As the country recovers from the war with France, and whispers that the pestilence has returned to England grow louder, fear is in the heart of every nobleman and commoner alike. Sir Ralph de Mandeville, ex-solider and newly appointed Justice of the Peace is sent to Langbarugh, just outside York, to investigate the murder of Coroner Sir Boderick de Whitby.
More deaths quickly follow, and while these are swiftly dealt with as plague victims, Sir Ralph and his two assistants Merek and Peter soon uncover something altogether more horrifying... A greater evil is at large in the northern wapentakes.
As panic escalates and the lines between plague and murder blur, Sir Ralph is thrust into a desperate race against time. Every shadow hides a potential killer, every cough could be a death knell. Can he unmask a murderer lurking in the terrifying shadow of the Black Death before they're all consumed by a terror more sinister than any plague?
A gruesomely wicked medieval mystery, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom, Paul Doherty and E. M. Powell.
What readers are saying abut Keith Moray...
'Dark and wonderfully addictive!' ????? Reader Review
'For any one who loves Phillipa Gregory and Kate Mosse, this is a must read' ????? Reader Review
'An excellent blending of poison, murder and the historical events' ????? Reader Review
'Comparable to other murder mystery books by well known others such as Ellis Peters or S.J Parris.' ????? Reader Review
'An exciting historical fiction novel that's well worth your time!' ????? Reader Review
More details
Series
Edition
Large type / large print edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Edition type
Large type / large print edition
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
654 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83703-433-8 (9781837034338)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Keith Moray
Desolation
A BRAND NEW medieval murder mystery - a chilling tale of death and deceit in plague-stricken York
E-Book
10/2025
Boldwood Books Ltd
€3.49
Available for download
Person
I was born in St Andrews and studied medicine at the University of Dundee in Scotland. I
lived and worked in Wakefield in Yorkshire for 40 years, within arrow-shot of the ruins of a
medieval castle, the base for a series of historical novels.
I am a retired GP, medical journalist and novelist, writing in several genres. As Keith Moray
I write historical crime fiction in the medieval era and in ancient Egypt, The Inspector
Torquil McKinnon crime novels set on the Outer Hebridean island of West Uist, and as Clay
More I write westerns. Curiously, my medical background finds its way into most of my
fiction writing.
In my spare time I enjoy the movies, theatre and making bread. I play golf and I run at
carthorse speed. As a frustrated actor I have found occasional solace as a supporting artist,
but enough said about that!
I now live in Stratford-upon with my wife Rachel and whichever of our children and
grandchildren who happen to pop in.
lived and worked in Wakefield in Yorkshire for 40 years, within arrow-shot of the ruins of a
medieval castle, the base for a series of historical novels.
I am a retired GP, medical journalist and novelist, writing in several genres. As Keith Moray
I write historical crime fiction in the medieval era and in ancient Egypt, The Inspector
Torquil McKinnon crime novels set on the Outer Hebridean island of West Uist, and as Clay
More I write westerns. Curiously, my medical background finds its way into most of my
fiction writing.
In my spare time I enjoy the movies, theatre and making bread. I play golf and I run at
carthorse speed. As a frustrated actor I have found occasional solace as a supporting artist,
but enough said about that!
I now live in Stratford-upon with my wife Rachel and whichever of our children and
grandchildren who happen to pop in.